Two large industrial projects, one poor state, two likely different outcomes — and a long-haired, flamboyant environment minister-turned-crusader starring in both. No, this is not your latest blockbuster but it has the makings of one. As reported Monday, Posco, the South Korean steelmaker, cleared a major regulatory hurdle in its bid for a massive steel project in Orissa. An environment ministry panel gave clearance for an initial steel production capacity of...

The Supreme Court has said no person can be convicted merely because he was associated with a subversive organisation, unless he has shared its unlawful purpose or participated in its unlawful activities, in a judgment that could affect the fate of Binayak Sen and Maoist ideologues convicted by lower courts. Apart from being held guilty of sedition, Sen, a doctor, has been convicted for his links with Maoists. The judgment may...

If the political system were clean and non-corrupt, the poor and downtrodden including Dalits would get all benefits fully and their living standard would automatically go up, said Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar, grandson of B.R. Ambedkar. He was addressing a district-level meeting of India Kudiyarsu Katchi held here on Sunday evening. The country have enough resources and component for Adi Dravida welfare in the State was around Rs.1,700 crore. If the government...

The Indian economy is moving back into the fast lane, with agriculture playing a leading role. A new financial review presented by the government in mid-December anticipated economic growth of up to 9% for the year to March 2011, and forecasters believe double-digit expansion is on the cards for later in the year. "Faster growth is expected to continue as agriculture recovers sharply from last year's drought and inflation starts to...

Every time Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh says no to a project, his critics give him a new label: Green fundamentalist, anti-business, anti-growth, obstructionist, Luddite and Dr. No. The job has rarely attracted so much attention, but Ramesh has turned a sleepy and apathetic ministry into a controversial one in recent months. His pronouncements have stopped projects worth billions of dollars, creating powerful enemies in industry and business. His political colleagues have...